Bridge



BRIDGE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 9, 1961 INVENTOR.

THOR/V70 A. (/RQ (/HART Sept. 7, 1965 T. L. URQUHART BRIDGE Filed Jan.9, 1961 P 7, 1965 T. L. URQUHART 3,204,269

BRIDGE Filed Jan. 9, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

THORNTON z. wequmqer United States Patent O 3,204,269 BRIDGE Thornton L.Urquhart, Farmiugton, Mich, assignor to Byrne Doors, Inc, Ferndale,Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed Jan. 9, 1961, Ser. No. 81,600Claims. (Cl. 14-1) This invention relates generally .to bridges.

One object of the invention is to provide a bridge which is particularlyadapted for temporary use. One such use might, for example, be to spanfreshly laid concrete.

Another object is to provide a bridge which is inexpensive tomanufacture, composed of only a few simple parts and easy to assembleand disassemble, yet which is of sturdy construction capable ofsupporting buses, fireengines, or other heavy vehicles. Need for atemporary bridge of this sort to carry necessary traffic, includingbuses and emergency equipment, has been increasingly obvious with thegrowing amount of paving of metropolitan and urban streets.

Another object of the invention is to provide a temporary bridge asdescribed above having a minimum clearance with respect to the groundunderneath.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bridge composed of roadsections arranged end-to-end to provid a continuous road surface, inwhich the remote outer ends of the road sections are adapted to engageand rest upon the ground and the adjacent inner ends of the roadsections are coupled together and supported above and clear of theground.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bridge as describedabove in which the means for coupling together the adjacent inner endsof the road sections includes a center splice extending beneath the roadsections, the adjacent inner ends of the road sections resting on andbeing supported by the center splice and the ends of the center splicebeing connected to and suspended from the respective road sections.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bridge in which thecenter splice is suspended from the road sections by means of hooksprovided on the ends of the center splice adapted to engage over pinsprovided on the road sections.

Other objects and novel features of the invention will become moreapparent as the following description proceeds, especially whenconsidered with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a bridge embodying myinvention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the bridge shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view of one of the structural members makingup a section of the bridge.

FIGURE 6 is an elevational view of a center splice.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIGURE 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the bridge is generallyindicated by the reference numeral 10 and is shown in FIG. 2 spanning awidth of concrete 12. The bridge is composed of the identical roadsections 14 and 16, and the two identical center splices 18 which coupletogether the adjacent inner end portions of the road sections. Theassembled bridge is supported only at the remote outer ends 19 of theroad sections along opposite edges of the concrete, as viewed in FIG. 2.The

3,204,269 Patented Sept. 7, 1965 outer ends of the road sections simplyrest upon the ground so that no elaborate preparations are required tobe made vfor the bridge.

Since the road sections 14 and 16 are identical, only one will bedescribed in detail. The road section 14 is composed of a rigid framemade up of suitable I-beams and channels, and planking over the framewhich provides the road surface. The frame composed of the channels andI-beams is generally designated 20 and the planking or planks over thetop of the frame is generally designated 22.

Four main laterally spaced parallel longitudinally extending I-beams areincluded in the frame 20 of road section 14. These I-beams aredesignated 24, 26, 28 and 30. These I-beams are identical and arearranged in pairs as shown in FIG. 1 with the beams 24 and 26 adjacentone longitudinal edge of the road section in spaced relation and thebeams 28 and 30 along the other longitudinal edge of the road sectionlikewise in spaced relation. A plurality of parallel transverselyextending longitudinally spaced I-beams 32 extend between the I- lbea-ms24 and 26, and at their ends are rigidly welded thereto. Similar I-beams32 extend between and are welded at their ends to the I-bea-ms 2 8 and30. These I-beams are likewise parallel and extend transversely of theroad section in longitudinally spaced relation. 1- beams 34 extendtransversely of the road section in parallel longitudinally spacedrelation and at the their ends are rigidly welded to the I-be'ams 26 and28.

At either end of the road section 14 there is a channel 36 extendingbetween and welded at its ends to the I- beams 24 and 26. Similarchannels 36 likewise extend between the I-beams 28 and 30 at either endof the road section and are welded at their ends to such I-beams.Somewhat longer channels 38 extend between and are welded at their endsto the I-beams 26 and 28. The channels 38 are provided at either end ofthe road section 14.

Between the outermost transverse I-beams 34, as well as between theoutermost transverse I-beams 32, it will be noted that the I-beams 243tlare of uniform height. However, beyond the outermost I-beams 34 and tothe ends of the road section the I-beams 24- 30 taper as illustrated. Atapering center longitudinally extending Lbeam 40 is provided at eitherend of the road section '14. One end of each channel 40 is welded to atransverse I-beam 34 and the other end is welded to a channel 38.Transverse parallel I-beams 42 extend between the longitudinal I-bearns26 and 40 and between the longitudinal I-beams 28 and 40, being rigidlywelded thereto at the ends. Transverse parallel I-bearns 42 also extendbetween and are rigidly welded at the ends to the longitudinal I-beams24 and 26 as well as longitudinal I- beams 28 and 30.

The planks 22 are laid over and supported by the top flanges of I-beams32, 34, 40 and 42, and the top flanges of the I-beams 24- 3%) lie flushwith or in the plane of the top road-forming surface of the planks.Since the planking is supported on the top flanges of the I-beams 32,34, 40 and 42, these top flanges lie in a plane spaced beneath the topflanges of the I-beams 24-30 by a distance equal to the thickness of theplanking.

As indicated above, the I-beams 24-30 are tapered at the ends, and theI-beams 40 are correspondingly tapered throughout their length. Thetransverse I-beams at the tapered end portions of the road section areof a smaller height to conform with this tapering configuration. Theroad sections are tapered at the ends in order to keep the road surfaceas low as possible. The planks 22 are bolted with carriage bolts to theI-beams and to the channels 38 at the ends, suitable spacer blocks 44 3being provided at the ends where the planks a-re bolted to the channels.Wood curbing strips 46 may be provided along both longitudinal edges ofroad section 14. The curbing strips are placed over the planking 22 andsecured thereto in any suitable manner. The curb is shown along onelongitudinal edge only in FIG. 1, although it will be understood that,if used ,at all, it will be used along both edges. The curb is not shownin FIG.

Pins 48 near one end of the road section extend between the I-beams 24and 26 and between the I-beams 28 and 30 and are rigidly secured attheir ends thereto. The pins 48 are aligned with one another. Additionalaligned pins 50 near the other end of the road section extend betweenand are secured at their ends to the Iabeams 24 and 26 and the I-beams28 and 30. The pins support the center splices 18 described more fullyhereinafter. In FIGURE 3 the center splices are shown engaging pins 48,but it will be understood that they will engage pins 50 if the roadsections are reversed. Plates 50 welded to the I-beams provide addedsupport for the pins. Pad eyes 51 are secured to the I-beams 24 and 30at the mid-points thereof, which is on a transverse line through thecenter of gravity of section 14, to be engaged by hooks for lifting andmoving an assembled bridge. The I-beams 24 and 30 also have sockets 52for receiving the posts 53 of a fence along either side of the bridgesection.

The means .for coupling the two road sections together includes a pairof identical center splices 1-8. Each center splice is composed of theparallel laterally spaced I-beams 54 which are secured together at theends by plates 56. A pair of laterally spaced hooks 58 are provided ateach end of the center splice being rigidly secured to the correspondingend plate '56. The hooks 58 at each end are transversely aligned and asseen, the upper hooked ends open downwardly and inwardly in alignmentwith those at the other end and are disposed above the I-beams 54. Atthe center of each center splice, a channel 60 is provided extendingacross and secured to the tops of the I-ebeams 54. The channel 60provides a seat for the adjacent inner ends of the road sections of theassembled bridge as will become more apparent hereinafter.

Each road section is identical and each is reversible end for end sinceit is symmetrical about a transverse median plane. In order to assemblythe bridge, the center splices are supported 'in laterally spacedparallel relation and in elevated position. The spacing between thecenter splices will be equal to the spacing between the aligned pins 48or 50. Then one road section is laid over the center splices withone enddisposed above and beyond the channel seat, and it is then backed offuntil the pins 48 thereof engage the hooks 58. The other road section isassembled in the same way, that is it is laid over the center splicesfrom the opposite end with its inner end projecting beyond the channelsupport and it is then backed off until its pins 48 engage the hooks 58at the other end of the center splices. The road sections may of coursebe reversed end for end in which event the hooks of the center spliceswill engage pins 50 instead of pins 48. Preferably an elongated spacermember, which may [be a 4 x 4 wood strip is placed on the channelsupport between the adjacent inner ends of the road sections to holdthem spaced apart so that the bridge cannot accidentally becomedisassembled. The spacer is indicated at 65.

The assembled road section may be picked up by a crane having hookswhich engage the pad eyes 51, and installed where desired as for exampleover a freshly laid concrete road. The remote or outer ends of the roadsections of the assembled bridge simply rest upon the ground, and noother supporting provisions are required.

The adjacent inner ends of the road section rest on the.

channel seats 60, and the center splices are suspended beneath the roadsect-ions from the pins 48. The center splices are thus supported aboveand clear of the road, and the bridge is supported only at its outerends.

Since each road section is reversible end for end, it makes nodifference in assembly which end is assembled with the center splices.

Since the bridge ismade of separable sections, an individual section maybe used separately where a shorter span will serve the purpose. Then, ofcourse, the in dividual road section will constitute the entire bridgeand its opposite ends will be supported on the ground or on suitablyraised foundations on either side of the span.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A temporary bridge comprising separate road sec- ,tions arrangedend-to-end to provide a continuous road surface, the remote outer endsof said road sections being adapted to engage. and rest upon the ground,said road sections being inclined upwardly from their outer ends towardtheir inner ends, means for supporting the adjacent inner ends of saidroad sections above said outer ends thereof so that said inner ends willbe above and clear of the ground when said outer ends engage and restupon the ground, including separate rigid elongated laterally spacedcenter splices extending lengthwise of and beneath said road sectionsacross the inner ends thereof, said center splices being spaced abovethe outer ends of said road sections so as to be above and clear of theground when said outer ends engage and rest upon the ground, theadjacent inner ends of said road sections resting on and being supportedby intermediate portions of said center splices, means for connectingthe ends of saidcenter splices to and suspending the same from saidrespective road sections at points spaced outwardly from the supportedinner ends thereof, said last-mentioned means including generallydownwardly and inwardly opening hooks on said center splices at theinner ends thereof and transverse pins on said road sections adjacent tobut spaced outwardly from the inner ends thereof over which said hooksrespectively engage, the inner ends of said road sections being spacedapart, and a filler member wedged bewteen the inner ends of said roadsections to cooperate with said hooks and pins in maintaining apredetermined spacing between said road sections.

2. A temporary bridge comprising separate'road sections arrangedend-to-end to provide a continuous road surface, the remote outer endsof said road sections being adapted to engage and rest upon the ground,said sections being inclined upwardly from their outer ends toward theirinner ends, means for supporting the adjacent inner ends of said roadsections above the outer ends thereof so that said inner ends will beabove and clear of the ground whensaid outer ends engage and rest uponthe ground including a separate rigid center splice extending lengthwiseof and beneath said road sections across the inner ends thereof, saidcenter splice being spaced above 7 the outer ends of said road sectionsso as to be above and clear of the ground when said outer ends engageand rest upon the ground, the adjacent inner ends of said road sectionsresting on and being supported by an intermediate portion of said centersplice, and means for connecting the ends of said center splice to andsuspending the same from said respective road sections at pointsadjacent to but spaced outwardly from the supported inner ends thereof,said last mentioned means comprising generally downwardly opening hooksan said center splice at the ends thereof and transverse pins on saidroad sections adjacent to but spaced outwardly from the inner endsthereof over which said hooks respectively engage.

3. A temporary bridge comprising separate road sections arrangedend-to-end to provide a continuous road surface, the remote outer endsof said road sections be ing adapted to engage and rest upon the ground,said road sections being inclined upwardly from their outer ends towardtheir inner ends, means for supporting the adjacent inner ends of saidroad sections above the outer ends thereof so that said inner ends willbe above and clear of the ground when said inner ends engage and restupon the ground including a separate rigid center splice extendinglengthwise of and beneath said road sections across the inner endsthereof, said center splice being spaced above the outer ends of saidroad sections so as to be above and clear of the ground when said outerends engage and rest upon the ground, the adjacent inner ends of saidroad sections resting on and being supported by an intermediate portionof said center splice, and means for connecting the ends of said centersplice to and suspending the same from said respective road sections atpoints adjacent to but spaced outwardly from the supported inner endsthereof, said last mentioned means including generally downwardly andinwardly opening hooks on said center splice at the ends thereof, andtransverse pins on said road sections adjacent to but spaced outwardlyfrom the inner ends thereof over which said hooks respectively engage.

4. The bridge defined in claim 3, wherein the inner ends of said roadsections are spaced apart and a filler member is disposed therebetweento cooperate with said hooks and pins in maintaining a predeterminedspacing between said road sections.

5. A temporary bridge comprising separate road sections arrangedend-to-end to provide a continuous road surface, the remote outer endsof said road sections being adapted to engage and rest upon the ground,said road sections being inclined upwardly from their outer ends towardtheir inner ends, means for supporting the adjacent inner ends of saidroad sections above the outer ends thereof so that said inner ends willbe above and clear of the ground when said outer ends engage and restupon the ground including a separate rigid center splice extendinglengthwise of and beneath said road sections across the inner endsthereof, said center splice being spaced above the outer ends of saidroad sections so as to be above and clear of the ground when said outerends engage and rest upon the ground, the adjacent inner ends of saidroad sections resting on and being supported by an intermediate portionof said center splice, and means for removably connecting the ends ofsaid center splice to and suspending the same from said respective roadsections at points adjacent to but spaced outwardly from the supportedinner ends thereof, said last mentioned means comprising elements onsaid road sections adjacent to but spaced outwardly from the inner endsthereof, and members at the ends of said center splice removablyengaging and suspended from said transverse elements.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 18,196 9/57 Earle14-1 157,238 11/74 Stafford 50-55 297,863 4/84 Smith 20-2 414,976 11/89Harvey 20-2 788,424 4/05 Ochs 119-82 822,581 6/06 Campbell 14-41,232,437 7/17 Simpson 14-72 1,378,448 5/21 Gilbert 20-2 1,733,517 10/29Siddens 119-82 1,900,867 3/33 Olds 14-1 2,141,529 12/38 Gravelle 14-722,327,640 8/42 Hendry 94-11 2,827,016 3/58 Jenkins 119-82 2,912,90911/59 Hart 94-4 X 3,066,332 12/62 Sedlacek 14-27 FOREIGN PATENTS 75,9673/19 Australia. 300,791 9/32 Italy.

JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Primary Examiner.

1. A TEMPORARY BRIDGE COMPRISING SEPARATE ROAD SECTIONS ARRANGEDEND-TO-END TO PROVIDE A CONTINUOUS ROAD SURFACE, THE REMOTE OUTER ENDSOF SAID ROAD SECTIONS BEING ADAPTED TO ENGAGE AND REST UPON THE GROUND,SAID ROAD SECTIONS BEING INCLINED UPWARDLY FROM THEIR OUTER ENDS TOWARDTHEIR INNER ENDS, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE ADJACENT INNER ENDS OF SAIDROAD SECTIONS ABOVE SAID OUTER ENDS THEREOF SO THAT SAID INNER ENDS WILLBE ABOVE AND CLEAR OF THE GROUND WHEN SAID OUTER ENDS ENGAGE AND RESTUPON THE GROUND, INCLUDING SEPARATE RIGID ELONGATED LATERALLY SPACEDCENTER SPLICES EXTENDING LENGTHWISE OF AND BENEATH SAID ROAD SECTIONSACROSS THE INNER ENDS THEREOF SAID CENTER SPLICES BEING SPACED ABOVE THEOUTER ENDS OF SAID ROAD SECTIONS SO AS TO BE ABOVE AND CLEAR OF THEGROUND WHEN SAID OUTER ENDS ENGAGE AND REST UPON THE GROUND, THEADJACENT INNER ENDS OF SAID ROAD SECTIONS RESTING ON AND BEING SUPPORTEDBY INTERMEDIATE PORTIONS OF SAID CENTER SPLICES, MEANS FOR CONNECTINGTHE ENDS OF SAID CENTER SPLICES TO AND SUSPENDING THE SAME FROM SAIDRESPECTIVE ROAD SECTIONS AT POINTS SPACED OUTWARDLY FROM THE SUPPORTEDINNER ENDS THEREOF, SAID LAST-MENTIONED MEANS INCLUDING GENERALLYDOWNWARDLY AND INWARDLY OPENING HOOKS ON SAID CENTER SPLICES AT THEINNER ENDS THEREOF AND TRANSVERSE PINS ON SAID ROAD SECTIONS ADJACENT TOBUT SPACED OUTWARDLY FROM THE INNER ENDS THEREOF OVER WHICH SAID HOOKSRESPECTIVELY ENGAGE, THE INNER ENDS OF SAID ROAD SECTIONS BEING SPACEDAPART, AND A FILLER MEMBER WEDGED BETWEEN THE INNER ENDS OF SAID ROADSECTIONS TO COOPERATE WITH SAID HOOKS AND PINS IN MAINTAINING APREDETERMINED SPACING BETWEEN SAID ROAD SECTIONS.